Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-03
New Jerseys Senator.

! Rufus BlOGgett, superintendent OF tne
New York and Long Branch Railroad, and
formerly member Of the New Jersey Assem-
bly and OF tho democratic State Central
Committee, was yesterday afternoon elected
United States Senator, TO succeed Hon. Wm.
J. Sewell, whose term expires next Friday.
The election was effected after series of the
most exciting scenes. When the joint meet
ing assembled at four o'clock, after recess,
two democrats (Boomer and Lennon wers
absent. The democrats. conscious of the
republican caucus held early in the after
! noon, were apprehensiVe, and tried to delay
proceedings till their full number was pre-
cent. Senator Edwards dem moved to
take a half hours recess, but the motion
| failed. Then Mr.. Barrett (dem. moved for
an hours recess. While the roll call on this
question was proceeding the absentaes
walked in. Thereupon MIR. Barrett with
drew his motion, and President Fish order.
ed the tenth ballot for United States Sene-
tor. The galleries we're thronged with
people at the time, and there was
scarcely On inch of unoccupied space
on the floor The roll call began
under impressive silence. Ackerman
| rep. the first on the list, voted for Rufus
Blodgett Armstrong (rep.) followed suit.
The decision of the republican caucus was
now manifest They had agreed to consoli-
date ou democrat fer the purpose of de-
feating Albeit. Every republican on the
roll with the exception of Let's aud Dick
inson, voted for Blodgett. The two named
still stood for Sewoll. Baird (speaker) and
Chattle and Tbrockmorton (dems.l also
voted for Blodgett. This gave him 80 votes
J & 4; ,oi, bOc of 10 rrNl
| flaborl and Senators Chase and Mcbride ad
ded. Carroll made speech in explanation
of his vote, and at the close was wildly
cheered by the democrats. For several
minutes there was 80 much confusion that
business had 10 be suspended. Donohue,
the other labor man, announced his inten-
| ton to stop with Erastus Z. Potter to the
end Kinney (dem.) still voted for Kays
| This was the result: Albeit, 3S Blodgett,
Sc; Sewell, 2; Potter, l Kays, /. Total, ST.
President Fish ordered second ballot.
II proceeded without change till Kenney
was reached; he swung into the Blodgctt
columns, bringing Blodgett within enc of a
majority Let's rep then forsook Sewel
and voted for Albeit. This raised the fail
ing hopes of the Albeit party momentarily.
| But, at the end OF the roll and before the
result was announced, Mr. Dickinson rep. !,
Sewell's sole remaining supporter, aroseand
changed TO Bodget. The crowd did not
grasp the situation for several seconds, but
when the report circulated that this elected
BoGgett, cheers went up from the republi
cans and disaffected democrats, miDged
| with hisses and howls.
Just az President Fish was about to an
nounce the result Senator Edwards (dem.) J
sDrang to his feet. There was SO much con-
fusion that the chair was about to decline to
recognize him, but consented, when order
was restored, TO hear Edwards. Edwards
object was to make q speech explaining q
change of his vote TO Sewell, and his purpose
was to get republicans and democrats, to
tho number Of forty one TO change to Sewell,
and thus snatch from Blodgett the victory
which he had iust snatched from Albeit
While Edwards was still calling for recog-
nition, couriers went in among the republi
cans trying to get them into toe movement.
| The project, however, was too full of COM
plications, and they refused to risk the COM
parative victory they had won. 1t might
change the tide. and give Albeit another
life. Numbers Of other democrats, with the
same view as Edwards, tried 70 change their
votes, but, when they saw the republicans
kept aloof from the deal, they generally re-
traced their steps Senator Chase (dem. J
however, changed to Blodgett. The ballot
stood ther; Blodeett, 42; Albeit, IS; z. &.
Potter, 1. The scene at tho announcement
of the result was one Of dire confusion. The
joint meeting at $50 p. ~ adjourned with
out day.
Rufus Blodgett, the new senator, was
born in Dorchester, New Hampshire, Nov.
| 9, 1884. He was member of the lower
house of the New Jersey Legislature in 1875
and 1879, representing Ocean county. He
afterwards removed to Monmouth county,
where he now resides. He is identified with
the interests of several railroad companies,
and was always recognized IS q staunch
democrat In the Assembly he was the
democratic leader He is fluent speaker,
and is of commanding figure. He was for
several years member of the democratic
State central committee.